KANSAS CITY, Missouri : Lionel Messi will face England for the first time in his illustrious international career when Argentina take on the European side in Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final in Atlanta, ending one of the most unusual omissions from his international resume.
The 39-year-old has spent more than two decades representing Argentina, playing against every other World Cup-winning nation, including Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain and France, but has never featured against England.
Argentina’s Football Association (AFA) described the semi-final on its website as “the match fate owed Messi.”
The closest Messi came to facing England was in November 2005, when the sides last met in a friendly in Geneva. Argentina lost 3-2 after goals from Wayne Rooney and a Michael Owen brace overturned strikes by Hernan Crespo and Walter Samuel.
Messi missed that match after being sent off on his Argentina debut against Hungary earlier that year.
“It’s special because they’re a great team, a powerhouse, and it’s always nice to play a team like that, a match of this kind,” Messi told reporters after Argentina’s 3-1 extra-time victory over Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
“We need to rest because we come from a lot of wear and tear, which the group obviously feels, and arrive in the best possible condition to keep doing what we’ve been doing: competing,” he added.
Argentina have survived three successive knockout scares to reach the last four. They beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in the round of 32 before recovering from a 2-0 deficit with 11 minutes remaining to defeat Egypt 3-2 in the last 16.
Against Switzerland, Messi provided the assist for Alexis Mac Allister’s opening goal but failed to score for the first time in a World Cup match since Argentina’s 2-0 group-stage victory over Poland at Qatar 2022.
Former England defender Micah Richards said Messi remained Argentina’s decisive advantage despite England’s physical edge.
“England can outrun Argentina but they just have that little genius Messi. They all play for him. Everyone should be excited,” Richards said on the BBC. “Marking him is impossible because he doesn’t run back.”
The semi-final will also renew one of international football’s fiercest rivalries, shaped by decades of memorable encounters and political tension, while giving Messi the opportunity to add England to the list of major opponents he has faced during his international career.
